The “entire Jewish community stands fairly and squarely” behind a London-based rabbi who came over to Ireland to perform a number of infant circumcisions and was arrested. Rabbi Jonathan Abraham is allowed to conduct circumcisions in Britain, but not in Ireland and was arrested by Gardai. Three non-Jewish families had hired him to circumcise their babies. Circumcision of baby boys is universal among Jews and Muslims and is also widely practiced in much of Africa. Non-religious circumcisions are also commonplace in some countries including the US.

Ireland Chief Rabbi, Yoni Weider, is concerned that it may soon become impossible for Jewish families to access religious circumcision in Ireland. No rabbi is believed to have been arrested for carrying out a circumcision anywhere in Europe since World War II.

Rabbi Abraham, 47, was arrested in Dublin on July 30 for carrying out circumcisions without being a registered medical practitioner. In countries like Britain it is enough to be trained in the practice. He appeared in court this week.
There were three babies, including a set of twins, aged between three and six weeks, in the house, but only one circumcision had taken place.

The babies present when Gardaí arrived were from Muslim and Christian backgrounds.

The court heard Rabbi Abraham’s fees were £70 for travel, £350 for each child with a €70 discount for twins.